U.S. patent number 11,319,004 [Application Number 16/493,257] was granted by the patent office on 2022-05-03 for tracked vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to BAE Systems Hagglunds Aktiebolag. The grantee listed for this patent is BAE Systems Hagglunds Aktiebolag. Invention is credited to Jonny Ljung, Anders Sandin, Ulf Wiberg.
United States Patent |
11,319,004 |
Sandin , et al. |
May 3, 2022 |
Tracked vehicle
Abstract
The invention relates to a tracked vehicle (V1, V2) comprising a
vehicle body (20; 120), at least one track assembly (10) and a
suspension device (S). Said track assembly (10) is arranged to be
supported by said vehicle body (20; 120) by means of said
suspension device (S). Said track assembly comprises a track
support beam (12) for supporting a plurality of road wheels (16),
an endless track (14) being disposed around said road wheels. Said
suspension device (S) comprises a leaf spring arrangement (30; 130,
142, 144) having portions transversally arranged relative to the
longitudinal extension of the vehicle. Said leaf spring arrangement
comprises L-shaped leaf spring members (30; 130), each leaf spring
member (30; 130) having a first portion (32; 132) attached to said
vehicle body (20; 120), a second portion (34; 134) attached to said
track support beam (12) and a transition portion (36; 136) there
between, so that compressive and tensile stresses are located to
said transition portion (36; 136) for generating a compressive
action in said transition portion.
Inventors: |
Sandin; Anders (Ornskoldsvik,
SE), Ljung; Jonny (Ornskoldsvik, SE),
Wiberg; Ulf (Arnasvall, SE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BAE Systems Hagglunds Aktiebolag |
Ornskoldsvik |
N/A |
SE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BAE Systems Hagglunds
Aktiebolag (Ornskoldsvik, SE)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006279499 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/493,257 |
Filed: |
February 26, 2018 |
PCT
Filed: |
February 26, 2018 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/SE2018/050179 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
September 11, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/169465 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
September 20, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
|
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200114991 A1 |
Apr 16, 2020 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Mar 16, 2017 [SE] |
|
|
1750316-0 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
55/108 (20130101); B60G 2202/114 (20130101); B60G
11/08 (20130101); B60G 2300/32 (20130101); B60G
2206/428 (20130101); B60G 2206/72 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
55/108 (20060101); B60G 11/08 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
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|
|
|
|
1059566 |
|
Jul 1979 |
|
CA |
|
104670352 |
|
Mar 2015 |
|
CN |
|
104691639 |
|
Oct 2015 |
|
CN |
|
3205127 |
|
Aug 1983 |
|
DE |
|
4-297313 |
|
Oct 1992 |
|
JP |
|
3016507 |
|
Mar 2000 |
|
JP |
|
390522 |
|
Dec 1976 |
|
SE |
|
2014/182235 |
|
Nov 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Extended European Search Report received for European Application
No. 18766663.1, dated Dec. 14, 2020, 5 pages. cited by applicant
.
International Search Report and Written Opinion received for PCT
Patent Application No. PCT/SE2018/050179, dated May 18, 2018, 10
pages. cited by applicant .
Search Report received for Swedish Patent Application No.
1750316-0, dated Oct. 9, 2017, 2 pages. cited by applicant .
Extended European Search Report received for European Application
No. 18809825.5, dated Feb. 4, 2021, 10 pages. cited by
applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Dickson; Paul N
Assistant Examiner: Miller; Caitlin Anne
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Morrison and Foerster LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A tracked vehicle comprising a vehicle body, at least one track
assembly and a suspension device, wherein said track assembly is
arranged to be supported by said vehicle body by means of said
suspension device, said track assembly comprising a track support
beam for supporting a plurality of road wheels, an endless track
being disposed around said road wheels, said suspension device
comprising a leaf spring arrangement having portions transversally
arranged relative to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle,
wherein said leaf spring arrangement comprises L-shaped leaf spring
members, each leaf spring member having a first portion attached to
said vehicle body, a second portion attached to said track support
beam and a transition portion there between, so that compressive
and tensile stresses are located to said transition portion for
generating a compressive action in said transition portion.
2. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member is arranged to run
essentially upwardly from said transition portion and said second
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member is arranged to run
essentially transversally relative to the longitudinal extension of
the vehicle and outwardly from said transition portion.
3. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, when said
second portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member subjected to an
upward force from underneath, said compressive action is generated
in said transition portion.
4. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said L-shaped
leaf spring members are laminated multilayer leaf spring
members.
5. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said L-shaped
leaf spring members are made of composite material.
6. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said L-shaped
leaf spring members are made of a steel material.
7. The tracked vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member and said second portion
of said L-shaped leaf spring member forms an angle there between in
the range of 45 to 120 degrees.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 371 of International Application No. PCT/SE2018/050179,
filed internationally on Feb. 26, 2018, which claims priority to SE
1750316-0, filed Mar. 16, 2017.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a tracked vehicle according to the
preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND
Tracked vehicles normally comprise a vehicle body and a pair of
track assemblies, where each track assembly of the pair of track
assemblies comprises a track support beam, a drive wheel, a
plurality of support wheels and an endless track running over the
drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels. Said drive wheel
and said plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to said
track support beam.
In order to improve mobility and comfort of such a tracked vehicle,
the vehicle needs to be provided with a suspension device. Said
track assembly is hereby arranged to be supported by said vehicle
body by means of said suspension device. According to a known
tracked vehicle the suspension device comprises a leaf spring
element being transversally arranged relative to the longitudinal
extension of the vehicle, wherein the leaf spring element is
attached to the vehicle body and arranged to run underneath the
vehicle body and partly on the respective side of the vehicle body
and laterally projecting from each side of the vehicle body and
being attached to the track support beam of the left and right
track assembly. The tracked vehicle may hereby be provided with a
leading such leaf spring element arranged in a front part of the
tracked vehicle and a trailing such leaf spring element. Although
such U-shaped laterally arranged leaf spring element may provide a
robust suspension of the tracked vehicle it results in a weight
increase that may affect mobility and efficiency of the tracked
vehicle.
There is thus a need to present improvements in suspension devices
for tracked vehicles.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a tracked vehicle
comprising a suspension device which provides a robust construction
with good mobility and comfort when driving the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
These and other objects, which will become apparent from the
following description, are achieved by a tracked vehicle as set out
in the appended independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the
tracked vehicle are defined in the appended dependent claims.
Specifically an object of the invention is achieved by a tracked
vehicle comprising a vehicle body, at least one track assembly and
a suspension device. Said track assembly is arranged to be
supported by said vehicle body by means of said suspension device.
Said track assembly comprises a track support beam for supporting a
plurality of road wheels, an endless track being disposed around
said road wheels. Said suspension device comprises a leaf spring
arrangement having portions transversally arranged relative to the
longitudinal extension of the vehicle. Said leaf spring arrangement
comprises L-shaped leaf spring members, each leaf spring member
having a first portion attached to said vehicle body, a second
portion attached to said track support beam and a transition
portion there between, so that compressive and tensile stresses are
located to said transition portion for generating a compressive
action in said transition portion.
By thus providing such L-shaped leaf spring members configured and
arranged so that compressive and tensile stresses are located to
said transition portion for generating a compressive action in said
transition portion a robust and weight efficient suspension device
is obtained, facilitating efficient drive with good mobility and
comfort. By thus providing such L-shaped leaf spring members
configured and arranged so that compressive and tensile stresses
are located to said transition portion for generating a compressive
action in said transition portion instead of having a U-shaped leaf
spring arranged to run underneath the vehicle body and partly on
the respective side of the vehicle body and laterally projecting
from each side of the vehicle body and thus having double bending
portions/transitions, laminated multilayer leaf spring members,
e.g. made of composite material, may advantageously be used without
the risk of delamination.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said first
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member is arranged to run
essentially upwardly from said transition portion and said second
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member is arranged to run
essentially transversally relative to the longitudinal extension of
the vehicle and outwardly from said transition portion. Hereby leaf
springs which may be easy and efficiently attached to the vehicle
body and track assembly for robust and weight efficient suspension
are obtained.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle, when said second
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member subjected to an upward
force from underneath, said compressive action is generated in said
transition portion. Hereby laminated multilayer leaf spring
members, e.g. made of composite material, may advantageously be
used without the risk of delamination.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members are laminated multilayer leaf spring members.
Hereby an even more weight efficient suspension device is
obtainable.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members are made of composite material. Hereby an even
more weight efficient suspension device is obtained as compared to
e.g. utilizing steel leaf spring members.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members are made of a steel material. Hereby a robust
suspension device is obtained.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said first
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member and said second portion
of said L-shaped leaf spring member forms an angle there between in
the range of 45 to 120 degrees. Hereby compressive action is
efficiently generated in said transition portion when said second
portion of said L-shaped leaf spring member subjected to an upward
force from underneath so that laminated multilayer leaf spring
members, e.g. made of composite material, advantageously may be
used without the risk of delamination
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present invention reference is
made to the following detailed description when read in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters
refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a front view of a tracked vehicle
with a suspension device according to prior art;
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a front view of a tracked vehicle
with a suspension device according to an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a perspective view of an L-shaped
leaf spring member of leaf spring arrangement of a suspension
device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3b schematically illustrates a side view of the L-shaped leaf
spring member in FIG. 3a;
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a tracked
vehicle with a suspension device according to an embodiment of the
invention; and
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an L-shaped
leaf spring member of leaf spring arrangement of a suspension
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter the term "track support beam" refers to a structural
element arranged to support ground-engaging means comprising an
endless track as well as drive wheel and road wheels.
Hereinafter the term "track assembly" refers to a unit of the
tracked vehicle comprising track support beam, drive wheel and road
wheels as well as a circumferential endless track, which unit is
arranged to comprise ground-engaging means and configured to propel
the vehicle and thus form at least part of a drive unit of the
tracked vehicle.
Hereinafter the term "track assembly pair" refers to opposite track
assemblies of a vehicle unit of the vehicle, one track assembly
constituting a right track assembly and the opposite track assembly
constituting a left track assembly.
Hereinafter the term "vehicle body" refers to any structure of a
vehicle configured to support track assemblies of a tracked vehicle
and may comprise or constitute the vehicle chassis. The term
"vehicle body" may refer to a vehicle frame, one or more beams or
the like.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a front view of a tracked vehicle
V1P with a suspension device according to prior art.
The tracked vehicle V1P comprises a track assembly pair T. Said
track assembly pair T comprises two track assemblies 10 arranged on
opposite sides of the vehicle V1P. The tracked vehicle V1P
comprises a vehicle body 20. The track assembly pair T is connected
to said vehicle body 20. Said two track assemblies 10 are thus
arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle body 20.
Each track assembly 10 comprises a track support beam 12 for
supporting a plurality of road wheels, not shown, an endless track
14 being disposed around said road wheels.
The tracked vehicle V1P comprises a suspension device S for the
respective track assembly 10. The respective track assembly 10 of
the tracked vehicle is thus arranged to be supported by the
respective vehicle body 20 by means of said suspension device.
Said suspension device comprises a leaf spring element 30P being
transversally arranged relative to the longitudinal extension of
the vehicle V1P. The leaf spring element 30P is attached to the
vehicle body 20 and arranged to run underneath the vehicle body 20
and partly on the respective side of the vehicle body 20 and
laterally projecting from each side of the vehicle body and being
attached to the track support beam 12 of the left and right track
assembly 10. The leaf spring element 30P thus has a U-shape having
double bending portions/transitions 32P, 34P with double bending
portions in connection to the respective side of the vehicle body
20.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a front view of a tracked vehicle
V1 with a suspension device S according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
The tracked vehicle V1 comprises a track assembly pair T. Said
track assembly pair T comprises two track assemblies 10 arranged on
opposite sides of the vehicle V1. The tracked vehicle V1 comprises
a vehicle body 20. The track assembly pair T is connected to said
vehicle body 20. Said two track assemblies 10 are thus arranged on
opposite sides of the vehicle body 20.
The vehicle body 20 has an upper side 20a, and underside 20b and a
left side portion 20c and right side portion 20d.
Each track assembly 10 comprises a track support beam 12 for
supporting a plurality of road wheels and a drive wheel, not shown
here, see FIG. 4, an endless track 14 being disposed around said
road wheels and drive wheel.
The tracked vehicle V1 comprises a suspension device S for the
respective track assembly 10. The respective track assembly 10 of
the tracked vehicle is thus arranged to be supported by the
respective vehicle body 20 by means of said suspension device
S.
Said suspension device S comprises a leaf spring arrangement
comprising L-shaped leaf spring members 30 having portions
transversally arranged relative to the longitudinal extension of
the vehicle. Each L-shaped leaf spring member 30 has a first
portion 32 attached to said vehicle body 20, a second portion 34
attached to said track support beam and a transition portion 36
there between. Said first portion 32 of said L-shaped leaf spring
member 30 is arranged to run essentially upwardly from said
transition portion 36 and said second portion 34 of said L-shaped
leaf spring member 30 is arranged to run essentially transversally
relative to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle V1 and
outwardly from said transition portion 36.
The first portion 32 of an L-shaped leaf spring member 30 arranged
on the left side of the vehicle body is thus attached to the left
side portion 20c of the vehicle body and the first portion 32 of an
L-shaped leaf spring member 30 arranged on the right side of the
vehicle body is thus attached to the right side portion 20d of the
vehicle body 20.
According to an embodiment the tracked vehicle V1 comprises a pair
of leading L-shaped leaf spring members 30 arranged in connection
to a front portion of the tracked vehicle V1 on the respective side
20c, 20d of the vehicle body 20 and a pair of trailing L-shaped
leaf spring members 30 arranged in connection to a rear portion of
the tracked vehicle V1 on the respective side 20c, 20d of the
vehicle body 20.
The tracked vehicle V1 comprises support elements 22 arranged to
project from the vehicle body 20 above the track assemblies 10 and
run along the track assemblies. Said support elements 22 are
arranged to provide protection for said track assemblies and
support for vehicle cab, not shown.
Said leaf spring arrangement comprises L-shaped leaf spring members
30 where each leaf spring member has a first portion 32 attached to
said vehicle body 20, a second portion 34 attached to said track
support beam and a transition portion 36 there between, so that
compressive and tensile stresses are located to said transition
portion 36 for generating a compressive action in said transition
portion 36. The respective L-shaped leaf spring member 30 is thus
shaped and configured to be attached to the sides 20c, 20d of the
vehicle body and the track support beam 12 of the right and left
track assembly 10 so that compressive and tensile stresses are
located to said transition portion for generating a compressive
action in said transition portion. The respective L-shaped leaf
spring member 30 is thus shaped and configured to be attached to
the sides 20c, 20d of the vehicle body and the track support beam
12 of the right and left track assembly 10 so that, when said
second portion 34 of said L-shaped leaf spring member 30 subjected
to an upward force F from underneath, said compressive action is
generated in said transition portion 36.
According to an embodiment said L-shaped leaf spring members 30 are
laminated multilayer leaf spring members.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members 30 are made of composite material.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members 30 are made of a steel material.
Such an L-shaped leaf spring member is described in more detail
with reference to FIG. 3a-b.
The exemplified tracked vehicle is according to an embodiment a
combat vehicle. The exemplified tracked vehicle may be any suitable
tracked vehicle for any suitable purpose.
FIG. 3a schematically illustrates a perspective view of an L-shaped
leaf spring member 30 of leaf spring arrangement of a suspension
device of a tracked vehicle according to an embodiment of the
present invention and FIG. 3b schematically illustrates a side view
of the L-shaped leaf spring member 30 in FIG. 3a.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 30 has a first portion 32
configured to be attached to a vehicle body of a tracked vehicle,
as shown in FIG. 2. The first portion 32 has an attachment side 32a
configured to face the vehicle body and an opposite side 32b
configured to face away from the vehicle body when attached to the
vehicle body as shown in e.g. FIG. 2.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 30 has a second portion 34
configured to be attached to a track support beam of a tracked
vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. The second portion 34 has an
attachment side 34a configured to face the track support beam and
an opposite side 34b configured to face away from the track support
beam when attached to the track support beam as shown in e.g. FIG.
2.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 30 has a transition portion 36
arranged between the first portion 32 and second portion 34.
As shown in FIG. 3a the first portion 32 of the L-shaped leaf
spring member 30 comprises through holes H1, H2 for an attachment
member, e.g. screw joint members, for facilitating attachment to
the vehicle body. The through holes H1, H2 thus run through the
first portion 32 from the attachment side 32a to the opposite side
34b. According to the embodiment in FIG. 3a the first portion 32
comprises two through holes H1, H2 arranged next to each other at a
lateral distance from each relative to the extension of the first
portion 32 on essentially the same level.
As shown in FIG. 3a the second portion 34 of the L-shaped leaf
spring member 30 comprises through holes H3, H4 for an attachment
member, e.g. screw joint members, for facilitating attachment to
the track support beam. The through holes H3, H4 thus run through
the second portion 34 from the attachment side 34a to the opposite
side 34b. According to the embodiment in FIG. 3a the second portion
34 comprises two through holes H3, H4 arranged next to each other
at a longitudinal distance from each relative to the extension of
the second portion 34.
As shown in e.g. FIG. 2 said first portion 32 of said L-shaped leaf
spring member 30 is arranged to run essentially upwardly from said
transition portion 36 and said second portion 34 of said L-shaped
leaf spring member 30 is arranged to run essentially transversally
relative to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle V1 and
outwardly from said transition portion 36. The transition portion
36 has a curved shape with an outer side 36a, see FIG. 3b, arranged
to face obliquely downwardly towards the vehicle body 20 and an
inner side 36b, see FIG. 3b, arranged to face obliquely upwardly
away from the vehicle body 20.
According to the embodiment of L-shaped leaf spring member 30
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3a-b the first portion 32 and said
second portion 34 of said L-shaped leaf spring member 30 forms an
angle of about 60 degrees. The angle formed between the first
portion 32 and second portion 34 of said L-shaped leaf spring
member depends on the inclination of the side of the respective
side of the vehicle body.
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a tracked
vehicle V2 with a suspension device according to an embodiment of
the invention.
The tracked vehicle V2 only differs from the tracked vehicle V1
described with reference to FIG. 2 with regard to the vehicle body,
i.e. the sides of the vehicle body and hence the respective
L-shaped leaf spring, i.e. the angle of the first portion of the
L-shaped leaf spring member attached the vehicle body relative to
the second portion of the L-shaped leaf spring member.
The tracked vehicle V2 thus comprises a vehicle body 120 with left
side 120c and right side 120d. The tracked vehicle V2 thus
comprises a track assembly pair T, comprising two track assemblies
10 arranged on opposite sides of the vehicle body 120 of the
vehicle V2.
Each track assembly 10 comprises a track support beam 12 for
supporting a plurality of road wheels 16 and a drive wheel 18, said
endless track 14 being disposed around said road wheels 16 and
drive wheel 18.
The tracked vehicle V2 comprises support elements 22 arranged to
project from the vehicle body 120 above the track assemblies 10 and
run along the track assemblies. Said support elements 22 are
arranged to provide protection for said track assemblies and
support for vehicle cab, not shown.
The tracked vehicle V2 comprises a suspension device for the
respective track assembly 10. The respective track assembly 10 of
the tracked vehicle is thus arranged to be supported by the
respective vehicle body 120 by means of said suspension device.
Said suspension device comprises a leaf spring arrangement
comprising L-shaped leaf spring members 130 of which a left
trailing L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is shown in FIG. 4. The
L-shaped leaf spring member has portions transversally arranged
relative to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle. Each
L-shaped leaf spring member 130 has a first portion 132 attached to
said vehicle body 120, a second portion 134 attached to said track
support beam and a transition portion 136 there between.
The first portion 132 of the L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is
configured to be attached to the vehicle body 120 by means of an
attachment member 142. Said attachment member 142 comprises
according to an embodiment screw joint members.
The second portion 134 of the L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is
configured to be attached to the track support beam 12 by means of
an attachment member 144. Said attachment member 142 comprises
according to an embodiment screw joint members.
Said attachment members 142, 144 and L-shaped leaf spring member
130 are comprised in a leaf spring arrangement 130, 142, 144.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 130 differs from the L-shaped leaf
spring member 30 in that the first portion 132 and said second
portion 134 of said L-shaped leaf spring member 130 forms an angle
of about 90 degrees. The angle formed between the first portion 132
and second portion 134 of said L-shaped leaf spring member depends
on the inclination of the respective side 120c, 120d of the vehicle
body 120 which for the vehicle V2 has an extension essentially
orthogonal to the longitudinal extension and transversal extension
of the tracked vehicle V2.
As for the leaf spring arrangement described with reference to FIG.
2, the leaf spring arrangement in this embodiment has essentially
the same function, and thus comprises L-shaped leaf spring members
130 where each leaf spring member has a first portion 132 attached
to said vehicle body 120, a second portion 134 attached to said
track support beam and a transition portion 136 there between, so
that compressive and tensile stresses are located to said
transition portion 136 for generating a compressive action in said
transition portion 136. The respective L-shaped leaf spring member
130 is thus shaped and configured to be attached to the sides 120c,
120d of the vehicle body and the track support beam 12 of the right
and left track assembly 10 so that compressive and tensile stresses
are located to said transition portion for generating a compressive
action in said transition portion. The respective L-shaped leaf
spring member 130 is thus shaped and configured to be attached to
the sides 120c, 120d of the vehicle body and the track support beam
12 of the right and left track assembly 10 so that, when said
second portion 134 of said L-shaped leaf spring member 130
subjected to an upward force from underneath, said compressive
action is generated in said transition portion 136.
According to an embodiment said L-shaped leaf spring members 130
are laminated multilayer leaf spring members.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members 130 are made of composite material.
According to an embodiment of the tracked vehicle said L-shaped
leaf spring members 130 are made of a steel material.
Such an L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is described in more detail
with reference to FIG. 5.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of an L-shaped
leaf spring member 130 of leaf spring arrangement of a suspension
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 130 has a first portion 132
configured to be attached to a vehicle body of a tracked vehicle,
as shown in FIG. 4. The first portion 132 has an attachment side
132a configured to face the vehicle body and an opposite side 132b
configured to face away from the vehicle body when attached to the
vehicle body as shown in e.g. FIG. 2.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 130 has a second portion 134
configured to be attached to a track support beam of a tracked
vehicle, as shown in FIG. 4. The second portion 134 has an
attachment side 134a configured to face the track support beam and
an opposite side 134b configured to face away from the track
support beam when attached to the track support beam as shown in
e.g. FIG. 2.
The L-shaped leaf spring member 130 has a transition portion 136
arranged between the first portion 132 and second portion 134.
The first portion 132 of the L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is
configured to be attached to the vehicle body 120 by means of an
attachment member 142. Said attachment member 142 comprises
according to this embodiment screw joint members J1, J2, J3, J4,
here four screw joint members. Said attachment member 142 comprises
according to this embodiment an attachment plate 142a, wherein said
screw joint members J1, J2, J3, J4 are configured to attach said
first portion 132 to the vehicle body 120 via said attachment plate
142a.
The second portion 134 of the L-shaped leaf spring member 130 is
configured to be attached to the track support beam 12 by means of
an attachment member 144. Said attachment member 142 comprises
according to an embodiment screw joint members J5, J6, here two
screw joint members.
As shown in FIG. 4 said first portion 132 of said L-shaped leaf
spring member 130 is arranged to run essentially upwardly from said
transition portion 136 and said second portion 134 of said L-shaped
leaf spring member 130 is arranged to run essentially transversally
relative to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle V2 and
outwardly from said transition portion 136. The transition portion
136 has a curved shape with an outer side 136a arranged to face
obliquely downwardly towards the vehicle body 120 and an inner side
136b arranged to face obliquely upwardly away from the vehicle body
120.
According to the embodiment of L-shaped leaf spring member 130
illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the first portion 132 and the second
portion 134 of said L-shaped leaf spring member 130 forms an angle
of about 90 degrees. The angle formed between the first portion 132
and second portion 134 of said L-shaped leaf spring member depends
on the inclination of the side of the respective side of the
vehicle body where the first portion 132 is arranged to be
attached.
The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and
description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many
modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners
skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in
order to best explain the principles of the invention and its
practical applications, thereby enabling other skilled in the art
to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the
various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated.
* * * * *